Fountain brush



July 5, 1932. E. s. GARVEY 1,

FOUNTAIN BRUSH Filed April 1 1951 //v l/EA/TOF: 5. 5. 64/? v5 )4Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD S. GARVEY, OF CLAYTON,MISSOURI FOUNTAIN BRUSH Application filed April 1,

This invention relates to fountain brushes and similar devices whereinfluid is dis charged from a reservoir to a tip. In a fountain brush, thereservoir is usually located "6' in an approximately upright positionand the liquid flows from the bottom of the reservoir to a tip used formarking, painting or stenciling.

Ink in the form of a thin fluid is ordi- 1 narily used in such brushes,and the ink is usually permitted to flow by gravlty from the reservoirto the brush tip. One objection to the older devices lies in theirregularity and uncertainty of the gravity flow which occurs while thebrush is in motion. Another objection appears in the leakage of inkwhich often occurs when the brush is not in service. 7

An object of the present invention is to produce a fountain brush, orthe like, wherein the ink or other fluid in the reservoir is forciblydischarged by the operator in accordance with his observation of thework, instead of depending upon gravity to supply this fluid. I

Another object is to prevent the leakage which ordinarily occurs infountain brushes having hand-operated valves to vary the flow of fluidfrom the reservoir. The ordinary valve is provided with an operatingdevice which extends through a Wall of the reservoir and under someconditions permits leakage of ink through said wall.

I will show how a valve of this kind can any part of the operatingmeans.

i In other words, the preferred form of the invention provides for aforcible discharge of fluid under the control of the operator instead ofthe usual uncertain gravity flow, and I also prevent the highlyobjectionable leakage which ordinarily occurs in valve devices under thecontrol of the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprisesthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying draW-ing, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention.However, it is to be be operated without danger of leakage at 1931.Serial No. 526,818.

understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations andmodifications which come within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section illustrating a fountain brush embodying thefeatures of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device.

I will now describe the fountain brush which I have shown as one form ofthe invention.

1 designates a reservoir comprising a bottom member 2 screwed into thelower end of a cylinder 3, said bottom member having a threadedextension 4 to receive a threaded ring 5 at the top of a brush tip 6.The usual inlet tube 7 may be located in the brush tip.

8 designates a curved valve normally engaging a correspondingly curvedseat in a discharge port 9 in the bottom of the reservoir.

A valve stem 10in the form of a vertical rod extends from the valve tothe upper portion of the reservoir where it terminates in a head 11.Guides 12 and 13 retain the valve stem at the vertical axis of thereservoir, the lower guide 13 having three legs seated on the bottom ofthe reservoir, while the upper guide 12 has similar legs adaptedto-engage the inner face of the cylinder 3. The bottom of the reservoiris provided with a circular flange which cooperates with the legs of thelower guide 13 to locate the rod or stem 10 at the center of thedischarge port. The valve stem is free to slide in the lower guide 13,but the upper guide 12 is fixed to said stem.

. A spring 14 extends from the lower guide 13 to a collar 15 which issecured to the valve stem. This spring normally retains the valve 8 inits closed position and transmits adownward pressure to said guide 13 tohold it in position. I

Prior to this invention, fountain brushes have been equipped with valvesat the bottom and stems, or other operating devices, extending from thevalves and passing through the top or side walls of the reservoirs. Inactual practice it is very diflicult, if not impossible, to preventleakage of the thin ink at the place where a valve operating memberextends through a wall of the reservoir, as the operating member must befreely movable, and this usually results in a loose fit permittingleakage of ink.

I will now show how the valve 8 can be operated by a member sealed tothe reservoir,

so as to positively eliminate the danger of leakage at the operatingmember.

16 designates a diaphragm at the top of the reservoir adapted to bedepressed, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby imparting adownward movement to the valve stem 10, so as to open the valve 8.

This diaphragm is preferably a concavoconvex sheet of spring metal,normally v bowed outwardly and adapted to return to gO ltS normalposition when free of pressure.

The margin of said diaphragm is seated on the top of the cylinder 8, andit may be sealed thereto in any suitable manner. For example, a ring 17surrounding the reservoir has an inturned flange seated on thediaphragm, and this ring may be welded, soldered, brazed, or otherwiseunited with the diaphragm 16 and cylinder 3.

When the diaphragm is depressed, it compresses the air above the liquidin the reservoir, thereby forcibly discharging the liquid through theport 9. In using the brush, the operator grasps the reservoir in onehand and uses his thumb to depress the diaphragm. Actual practice hasshown that this arrangement of the parts enables the device to be veryconveniently used and operated.

A variatlon 1n the dlscharge can be ob- .tained by quick and slowmovements of the .15. diaphragm.

ia'diaphragm preferably serves as means for opening the valve 8, so theliquid is subjected to pressure and at the same time permitted to freelyescape at the valve.

The spring 14, which restores the valve, rm also imparts an upwardthrust to the rod 10 which engages the diaphragm. Therefore, if thediaphragm is relatively weak, or if it lacks the inherent spring power,the spring 10 may be used to restore thediaphragm.

It will now be understood that the very simple device herein shownprovides a positive pressure to feed the liquid to the brush, instead ofdepending upon a slow and uncertain gravity flow while the device is inserv- 'ice. Moreover, the forclble dlscharge is very easily andconveniently controlled by the operator. A further advantage lies in theelimination of leakage at the valve-operating means. However, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to a combination of allof these novel features, nor to the specific combination of detailswhich I have shown to illustrate a very simple and inexpensive form ofthe invention, as one or more of the new results can be obtained invarious modifications of the device herein shown.

I claim:

1. In a fountain brush, a reservoir having a bottom provided with adischarge port having a curved valve seat, a curved valve adapted tocontact with said curved seat to close said port, a brush below saidport, a diaphragm made of spring material seated on the top of saidreservoir, a ring surrounding said reservoir and having an inturnedflange seated on the diaphragm, said ring being sealed to said reservoirand diaghragm to prevent leakage, an operating device eX-- tending fromsaid valve through said discharge port to a position adjacent the bottomof said diaphragm, said opera-ting device being provided with a upperand lower spring seat, said lower spring seat being separated from saiddischarge port to provide a space for the delivery of fluid to saidport, and a spring located between and seated on said spring seatswhereby upward pressure is transmitted to said operating device andvalve so as to yieldingly retain them in theirelevated positions, saidvalve being movable downwardly in response to a downward movement ofsaid diaphragm to permit a forcible discharge of liquid from saidreservoir to said brush.

2. In a fountain bush, a hand-receiving reservoir having a bottomprovided with a dis charge port having a curved valve seat, a curvedvalve adapted to contact with said curved seat to close said port, abrush below said port, a concave-convex diaphragm seated on the top ofsaid hand-receiving reservoir and adapted to be depressed by the thumbof the user, said diaphragm being made of spring material normally bowedoutwardly and adapted to return to its normal position when free ofpressure, a ring surrounding said reservoir and having an inturnedflange seated on the diaphragm, said ring being sealed to said reservoirand diaphragm to prevent leakage, an operating rod extending from saidvalve through said discharge port to a position adjacent the bottom ofsaid diaphragm, a stationary guide to retain said operating rod in thecenter of said port, said guide having legs seated on the bottom of thereservoir to separate said guide from said discharge port to provide aspace for the delivery of fluid to said port, said bottom being providedwith a circular flange which cooperates with said legs to locate theoperating rod in the center of said discharge port, and a spring wherebyupward pressure is transmitted to said rod and valve so as to yieldinglyretain them in their elevated positions, said spring being seated uponsaid guide to hold it in position, said rod and valve being movabledownwardly in response to a downward movement of said diaphragm topermit a forcible discharge of liquid from said reser- Voir to saidbrush.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDWARD s. GARVEY.

